Views and life of Evgeny Bazarov. Character history

I'm talking about his manner "de hier

ce qui est et d"expliquer ce que

n"ese pas" (French, "to deny

what is there and spread

about something that doesn't exist")

E. A. Poe, "Murder in the Rue Morgue"

Monsieur La Rochefoucauld once said: “How often people use their intelligence to do stupid things.” Bazarov, the main character of the novel by I. S. Turgenev "Fathers and Sons" from the representatives of the so-called "children", had not only intelligence, he was characterized by such qualities as: psychological stability, self-control, patience, responsiveness, the ability to self-sacrifice, and There is only one thing that prevents us from calling him an ideal hero: his fanatical adherence to the idea of ​​nihilism, which, of course, having positive qualities, was in its essence not only utopian, but also terrible in its destructiveness. Freeing one from the tyranny of negative thoughts and false beliefs, spiritual slowness, poor parenting, destructive relationships or bad habits, this idea could be an invaluable aid in getting rid of ingrained prejudices that have penetrated the souls of people from the outside, like an occupying army. But its shadow side will appear when, supposedly freeing it from one tyranny, they want to replace it with another: after all, in order to build something in a vacant lot, they will again need free labor, slaves - and it will not matter what idea they will work for again disinterestedly, forgetting their own interests, they will have to be forced, and they can be forced only with the help of force, physical or through moral intimidation. Moreover, the leaders of any such liberation movement will only care about their power and personal enrichment. This is human nature. Some obey, others obey.

“A nihilist is a person who does not bow to any authority, who does not take a single principle on faith, no matter how much respect this principle is surrounded,” explains Arkady, Bazarov’s “friend,” to his uncle Pavel Petrovich, a representative of the conservative thoughts.

Generally speaking, the main dispute of ideas in the novel occurs precisely between Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich, between the “ideologists” of the past and the future. The present turns out to be torn apart, almost non-existent, everyone speaks with confidence about what was or what will be, non-existent in the present reality. No one has a definite worthwhile thought or clear beliefs about what exists. They can only criticize and reject. Any statement loses its meaning.

“Every person must educate himself, well, at least like me, for example... And as for time, why will I depend on it? Better let it depend on me. No, brother, this is all licentiousness, emptiness! This “all romanticism, nonsense, rottenness, art,” this is how Bazarov talks about love. He does not want to admit that love as a relationship between a man and a woman, which Bazarov calls a simple physiological phenomenon, has another side, is filled with a deep philosophical meaning, and can give birth in a person to the desire for the beautiful, the great, the good. For Bazarov, this is just romanticism. However, life is cleverly arranged, it is a complex substance that does not depend on the will of a person and the strength of his positions. At one point, everything can turn in such a way that a person who previously had strong beliefs on a certain issue can be forced by objective reality to radically change his views. Life played a cruel joke on Bazarov. He so uncompromisingly rejected the spiritual principle of love that he himself did not notice how he fell in love with Anna Sergeevna Odintsova, a representative of the aristocracy, whom Bazarov did not accept and condemned. In a love conflict, Bazarov’s beliefs are tested for strength, and it turns out that they are not perfect, cannot be accepted as absolute: “In a conversation with Anna Sergeevna, he more than ever expressed his indifference and contempt for everything romantic, and when left alone he realized romance with indignation in yourself." Now Bazarov’s soul is split into two halves - on the one hand, we see the denial of the spiritual foundations of love, on the other hand, the ability to love passionately and spiritually. Cynicism is replaced by a deeper understanding of human relationships.

Thus, Turgenev rejects Bazarov’s nihilism regarding art, nature, love, philosophy, but avoids a final assessment of Bazarov’s personality and evaluation of his ideas. As a person, Bazarov, under the influence of feelings for Odintsova, comprehended the charm of female beauty, the poetry of nature, which he had previously considered only a “workshop” of man, and recognized the existence of love. From a prejudiced fanatic, Bazarov moved to a deeper stage. Now he is not a slave to his beliefs and, under the influence of facts, he is able to reconsider his views and agree with the obvious. The ability to evolve contains the greatness of this image.

Why, before his death, does Bazarov painfully search for an answer to the question of whether Russia needs him? For the first time he thinks, very seriously, about the vitality and usefulness of his positions. Reject, deny, clear - is this necessary in real life? Or is it better to wait? - “To break is not to build,” says popular wisdom. The course of life itself will put everything in its place. Life is much wiser than all human ideas and theories. In order for people's relationships to become purer and more sincere, it is necessary to reunite love and life, and not destroy it.

Evgeny Bazarov is the main character of I. S. Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons,” preaching nihilism, resolutely denying the social order, idle talk, art, the nature and power of human feelings.

The young man is unfamiliar with tact, politeness and respect for elders, so he speaks with absolutely no embarrassment to the father and uncle of his friend Arkady. While in their house, Evgeny allows himself not only to ignore the rules and customs of the owners of the estate, but also to argue with Pavel Petrovich. Ethical standards seemed to him a stupid formality, absolutely useless in modern society.

Bazarov is a supporter of the natural sciences, an ardent defender of them, considering them superior to everything human. This applies not only to the scientific side of human life, but also to the “disease” of society as a whole, because if a person can be cured with the help of medicines, then this entire society can be healed by work and science. It was in this that he saw the leading role of materialism in the development of people's lives. Only in this he saw the benefit for a person, only hard work can bring a positive result, that’s why Eugene worked so hard.

On the contrary, art and nature are not able to help a person improve their life, because all this is empty, useless: “A decent chemist is twenty times more useful than any poet.” He was also far from the feelings truly inherent in any person, considering, for example, love only a physical attraction. For everything that could attract a person and help him in life, he tried to find a scientific justification.

Eugene also despised the political system, nobility and aristocracy. He saw himself as close to the people, but he was not always so; after all, not everyone accepted or even understood his views on life. He was quite alone in this. But although he criticized the social structure, it is clear that nothing would have gone further than conversations on this topic among the people, who usually start a rebellion, start a revolution, Bazarov did not see any particular strength, and even treated him with some contempt, blaming him in ignorance and absurd “devotion” to his position: “The very freedom that the government is fussing about will hardly benefit us, because our peasant is happy to rob himself just to get drunk on dope in a tavern.” As a result, all of Bazarov’s ideas become practically unfeasible, which he admits in the last days of his life.

So, a crude cynic and materialist, who believes in reason and rejects feelings, who does not recognize authorities and moral principles, suddenly realizes the failure of his theory. I don’t think that this can be called a defeat, because at the end of his life Bazarov is already inclined to think that a shoemaker, a butcher and a tailor would be more useful than talking about the ills of society. However, he believed that he could bring true benefit through his activities. This was his philosophy.

Updated: 2018-01-10

Attention!
If you notice an error or typo, highlight the text and click Ctrl+Enter.
By doing so, you will provide invaluable benefit to the project and other readers.

Thank you for your attention.

Roman I.S. Turgenev's "Fathers and Sons" was published in 1862, and in it the author reflected the main conflict that split Russian society on the eve of the era of reforms. This is a conflict between common democrats who advocate decisive reforms, and liberals who prefer the path of gradual reforms. Turgenev himself belonged to the second camp, but he made the hero of the novel his ideological opponent, a commoner by birth and a nihilist by views, Evgeniy Bazarov.
Our first meeting with the hero takes place on May 20, 1859, when Arkady Kirsanov, returning after graduation to his native “nest of nobility,” brings with him his new friend, Bazarov. The figure of Bazarov immediately attracts our attention: one can feel inner strength, calm confidence, independence in views, actions, and judgments. He undoubtedly had a strong influence on Arkady. Turgenev draws the reader’s attention to Bazarov’s careless manners, to his clothes, “a robe with tassels,” which the hero himself calls “clothes,” to his naked red hand, which obviously did not know white gloves and was accustomed to work. The author draws a portrait of the hero: we see his long and thin face with a wide forehead, “it was enlivened by a calm smile and expressed self-confidence and intelligence.” Bazarov was studying to become a doctor and next year he was going to “become a doctor.”
Bazarov's main subject of interest is natural sciences. He had deep and broad knowledge in physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. He, as Arkady puts it, “knows everything.” But, as we soon see, Bazarov’s knowledge was somewhat one-sided. The hero recognized only those sciences that brought visible practical benefit. Therefore, Bazarov admired the natural sciences and did not recognize philosophy or art at all. He said: “And what is science - science in general? There are sciences, just as there are crafts, knowledge, but science in general does not exist at all.”
This narrow-mindedness is explained by Bazarov’s beliefs. He calls himself a “nihilist,” that is, a person who “does not bow to any authority, who does not accept a single principle on faith, no matter how respected this principle may be.” Bazarov believes only in what can be verified by experience, experiment. He denies the usefulness of literature, painting, music, and art in general for humans, because, as it seems to him, they do not bring practical benefit. “A decent chemist is twenty times more useful than any poet,” says Bazarov. “Raphael is not worth a penny.” Turgenev's hero does not understand that art is as important for a person as practical sciences. No wonder there is a wise Russian proverb: “Man does not live by bread alone.” These views of Bazarov undoubtedly impoverish him as a person, and we cannot accept them. In this regard, the image of Nikolai Petrovich Kirsanov, who knows how to subtly feel and understand beauty, seems more sympathetic to me: he loves Pushkin, enthusiastically plays the cello, and admires the beauty of Russian nature. Bazarov is indifferent to the beauty of nature, he looks at it purely practically. “Nature is not a temple, but a workshop, and man is a worker in it,” he says.
But there are also positive aspects to Bazarov’s views - this is the denial of outdated concepts and ideas. First of all, this applies to his views on the nobility and, in particular, on the aristocracy. Bazarov always emphasized his non-noble origins, although his mother comes from impoverished nobles and his parents even have their own small estate and eleven serfs. The hero is proud of his closeness to the people, he even introduces himself in the folk way - Evgeny Vasiliev. “My grandfather plowed the land,” says Bazarov. He was accustomed to working since childhood, studied with “copper money,” supported himself, and did not take a penny from his parents. Great hard work, efficiency, perseverance, willpower, practicality - these are the qualities that Bazarov can deservedly be proud of and that attract us to Bazarov. He constantly works: he conducts experiments, “cuts frogs,” and is engaged in medical practice. These activities of Bazarov sharply contrast with the “sybaritism” of Arkady and the aristocratic idleness of Pavel Petrovich, whom Bazarov sincerely despises and considers a worthless person.
But not all of Eugene’s actions evoke our sympathy. We cannot approve of his feelings for his parents, whom he treats somewhat arrogantly and condescendingly and to whom he unwittingly causes pain. But they love him so sincerely, they are so proud of him! Bazarov's attitude towards Arkady can also not always be called comradely. Evgeniy sometimes seems rude and insensitive. But behind this external rudeness hides a tender, vulnerable heart, capable of deep feeling. Although Bazarov denies the feeling of love, he himself is capable of deep and sincere love. This proves his attitude towards Anna Sergeevna Odintsova. It is her who the dying Bazarov asks to call to him so that he can see him again before his death.
The death of Bazarov, so truthfully depicted in the novel, makes a strong impression on us. Turgenev himself considered Bazarov a tragic figure, because, according to the author, he had no future. DI. Pisarev wrote in his article “Bazarov”: “Without being able to show us how Bazarov lives and acts, Turgenev showed us how he dies... To die the way Bazarov died is the same as to accomplish a great feat.” The hero dies without renouncing his views, his beliefs, without betraying himself. And the tragic death of Bazarov is the final chord of his short but bright life.
The personality of Evgeny Bazarov, his views, actions, of course, are ambiguous; we can accept them or not. But they are undoubtedly worthy of our respect.

The novel "Fathers and Sons" was the result of the thoughts of I.S. Turgenev about the search for the hero of time. At this turning point for the country, each of the writers wanted to create an image that would represent the person of the future. Turgenev could not find a person in modern society who would embody all his expectations.

The image of the main character and his views

Bazarov, whose views on life still remain an interesting object of study, is the central character of the novel. He is a nihilist, that is, a person who does not recognize any authority. He questions and ridicules everything that has been established in society as worthy of respect and veneration. Nihilism determines Bazarov's behavior and attitude towards others. It is possible to understand what Turgenev’s hero is like only when the main plot lines in the novel are examined. The main thing you should pay attention to is the conflict between Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov, as well as Bazarov’s relationship with Anna Odintsova, Arkady Kirsanov and his parents.

Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov

The clash between these two characters reveals the external conflict in the novel. Pavel Petrovich is a representative of the older generation. Everything about his behavior irritates Evgeniy. From the very moment of their meeting, they experience antipathy towards each other, the heroes conduct dialogues and disputes, in which Bazarov shows himself most clearly. The quotes he utters regarding nature, art, and family can be used as separate means of characterizing him. If Pavel Petrovich treats art with trepidation, then Bazarov denies its value. For representatives of the older generation, nature is a place where you can relax both body and soul, feel harmony and peace within yourself, it needs to be appreciated, it is worthy of artists’ paintings. For nihilists, nature is “not a temple, but a workshop.” Most of all, people like Bazarov value science, in particular, the achievements of German materialists.

Bazarov and Arkady Kirsanov

Bazarov's attitude towards others characterizes him in general as a good-natured person. Of course, he does not spare those people for whom he feels antipathy. Therefore, it may even seem that he is too arrogant and arrogant. But he always treated Arkady with warmth. Bazarov saw that he would never become a nihilist. After all, he and Arkady are too different. Kirsanov Jr. wants to have a family, tranquility, home comfort... He admires Bazarov’s intelligence, the strength of his character, but he himself will never be like that. Bazarov does not behave very noblely when Arkady is visiting his parents' house. He insults Pavel Petrovich and Nikolai Petrovich, calling them pompous aristocrats. Such behavior reduces the image of the main character.

Bazarov and Anna Odintsova

Anna Odintsova is a heroine who becomes the cause of an internal conflict in the soul of the protagonist. This is a very beautiful and intelligent woman, she captivates everyone with a certain coldness and majesty. And so Evgeny, confident that mutual affection is impossible between people, falls in love. Some “woman” was able to conquer him, as Bazarov himself first calls Odintsova. His views crumble to pieces. However, the heroes are not destined to be together. Bazarov is unable to recognize Odintsova’s power over himself. He is in love, he suffers, his declaration of love is more like an accusation: “You achieved your goal.” In turn, Anna is also not ready to give up her peace of mind, she is ready to give up love, just not to worry. Bazarov’s life cannot be called happy, because at first he was convinced that there was no love, and then, when he truly fell in love, the relationship did not work out.

Relationships with parents

Bazarov's parents are very kind and sincere people. They dote on their talented son. Bazarov, whose views do not allow tenderness, is too cold towards them. The father tries to be unobtrusive, is embarrassed to pour out his feelings in front of his son, and does his best to reassure his wife, telling her that she is bothering her son with excessive care and concern. Fearing that Evgeny will leave their house again, they try in every possible way to please him.

Attitude towards pseudo-nihilists

There are two characters in the novel, Bazarov’s attitude towards them is contemptuous. These are the pseudo-nihilists Kukshin and Sitnikov. Bazarov, whose views supposedly appeal to these heroes, is an idol for them. They themselves are nothing. They flaunt their nihilistic principles without actually adhering to them. These heroes shout slogans without understanding their meaning. Evgeniy despises them and demonstrates his disdain in every possible way. In his dialogues with Sitnikov, he is clearly much taller. Bazarov's attitude towards the pseudo-nihilists around him elevates the image of the protagonist, but lowers the status of the nihilistic movement itself.

So, the way Bazarov treats people allows us to better understand his image. He is cold in communication, sometimes arrogant, but still he is a kind young man. It cannot be said that Bazarov’s attitude towards others is bad. The defining factors in them are the hero’s views on life and the interaction of people. Of course, his most important virtue is honesty and intelligence.

The novel "Fathers and Sons" has a complex structure and multi-level conflict. Purely outwardly, he represents a contradiction between two generations of people. But this eternal is complicated by ideological and philosophical differences. Turgenev's task was to show the harmful influence of certain philosophical movements on modern youth, in particular nihilism.

What is nihilism?

Nihilism is an ideological and philosophical movement, according to which there are and cannot be authorities, and none of the postulates should be taken on faith. (as he himself notes) is a merciless denial of everything. The philosophical basis for the formation of nihilistic teaching was German materialism. It is no coincidence that Arkady and Bazarov suggest that Nikolai Petrovich read Buchner instead of Pushkin, in particular his work “Matter and Force”. Bazarov’s position was formed not only under the influence of books and teachers, but also from living observation of life. Bazarov's quotes about nihilism confirm this. In a dispute with Pavel Petrovich, he says that he would gladly agree if Pavel Petrovich presented him with “at least one resolution in our modern life, in family or social life, that would not cause complete and merciless denial.”

The main nihilistic ideas of the hero

Bazarov's nihilism is manifested in his attitude towards various spheres of life. In the first part of the novel, there is a clash of two ideas, two representatives of the older and younger generations - Evgeny Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich Kirsanov. They immediately dislike each other, and then sort things out through polemics.

Art

Bazarov speaks most harshly about art. He considers it a useless sphere that gives a person nothing except stupid romanticism. Art, according to Pavel Petrovich, is a spiritual sphere. It is thanks to him that a person develops, learns to love and think, understand others, and get to know the world.

Nature

Bazarov’s review of not a temple, but a workshop looks somewhat blasphemous. And the person in her is a worker." The hero does not see her beauty, does not feel harmony with her. In contrast to this review, Nikolai Petrovich walks through the garden, admiring the beauty of spring. He cannot understand how Bazarov does not see all this, how he can remain like this indifferent to God's creation.

The science

What does Bazarov value? After all, he cannot have a sharply negative attitude towards everything. The only thing the hero sees value and benefit in is science. Science as the basis of knowledge and human development. Of course, Pavel Petrovich, as an aristocrat and a representative of the older generation, also values ​​and respects science. However, for Bazarov, the ideal is German materialists. For them, love, affection, feelings do not exist; for them, a person is simply an organic system in which certain physical and chemical processes occur. The main character of the novel "Fathers and Sons" is inclined to the same paradoxical thoughts.

Bazarov's nihilism comes into question; it is tested by the author of the novel. Hence, an internal conflict arises, which no longer occurs in the Kirsanovs’ house, where Bazarov and Pavel Petrovich argue every day, but in the soul of Evgeny himself.

The future of Russia and nihilism

Bazarov, as a representative of the advanced direction of Russia, is interested in its future. So, according to the hero, in order to build a new society, it is first necessary to “clear the place.” What does this mean? Of course, the hero’s expression can be interpreted as a call for revolution. The development of the country must begin with radical changes, with the destruction of everything old. At the same time, Bazarov reproaches the generation of liberal aristocrats for their inaction. Bazarov speaks of nihilism as the most effective direction. But it is worth saying that the nihilists themselves have not yet done anything. Bazarov's actions are manifested only in words. Thus, Turgenev emphasizes that the heroes - representatives of the older and younger generations - are very similar in some ways. Evgeny's views are very frightening (this is confirmed by Bazarov's quotes about nihilism). After all, what is any state built on first of all? On traditions, culture, patriotism. But if there are no authorities, if you don’t appreciate art, the beauty of nature, and don’t believe in God, then what remains for people? Turgenev was very afraid that such ideas could come true, and that Russia would then have a very hard time.

Internal conflict in the novel. Test of love

There are two key characters in the novel who supposedly play a cameo role. In fact, they reflect Turgenev’s attitude towards nihilism; they debunk this phenomenon. Bazarov’s nihilism begins to be comprehended by him a little differently, although the author does not tell us this directly. So, in the city, Evgeniy and Arkady meet Sitnikov and Kukshina. They are innovative people who are interested in everything new. Sitnikov is an adherent of nihilism, he expresses his admiration for Bazarov. At the same time, he behaves like a buffoon, he shouts nihilistic slogans, it all looks ridiculous. Bazarov treats him with obvious contempt. Kukshina is an emancipated woman, simply sloppy, stupid and rude. That's all that can be said about the heroes. If they are representatives of nihilism, on which Bazarov places such high hopes, then what is the future of the country? From this moment on, doubts appear in the hero’s soul, which intensify when he meets Odintsova. The strength and weakness of Bazarov's nihilism manifest themselves precisely in the chapters where the hero's love feelings are spoken of. He resists his love in every possible way, because it is all stupid and useless romanticism. But his heart tells him something else. Odintsova sees that Bazarov is smart and interesting, that there is some truth in his ideas, but their categoricalness betrays the weakness and dubiousness of his beliefs.

Turgenev's attitude towards his hero

It is not for nothing that a heated controversy has developed around the novel “Fathers and Sons”. Firstly, the topic was very topical. Secondly, many representatives of literary criticism were, like Bazarov, fascinated by the philosophy of materialism. Thirdly, the novel was bold, talented and new.

There is an opinion that Turgenev condemns his hero. That he slanderes the younger generation, seeing only the bad in them. But this opinion is wrong. If you look at Bazarov’s figure more closely, you can see in him a strong, purposeful and noble nature. Bazarov's nihilism is only an external manifestation of his mind. Turgenev, rather, feels disappointed that such a talented person is fixated on such an unjustified and limited teaching. Bazarov cannot but inspire admiration. He is daring and brave, he is smart. But besides this, he is also kind. It is no coincidence that all the peasant children are drawn to him.

As for the author's assessment, it is most fully manifested in the ending of the novel. Bazarov’s grave, which his parents come to, is literally buried in flowers and greenery, and birds sing over it. It is unnatural for parents to bury their children. The beliefs of the protagonist were also unnatural. And nature, eternal, beautiful and wise, confirms that Bazarov was wrong when he saw in it only material for achieving human goals.

Thus, Turgenev's novel "Fathers and Sons" can be seen as a debunking of nihilism. Bazarov's attitude towards nihilism is not just a philosophy of life. But this teaching is questioned not only by representatives of the older generation, but also by life itself. Bazarov, in love and suffering, dies from an accident, science is unable to help him, and over his grave Mother Nature is still beautiful and calm.